Is RV Toilet Paper Really Necessary?
08-26-2016
Author: in Education
When we first embarked on our RV adventure, we never dreamed that one of the most burning questions that would plague us is “what kind of toilet paper should we use?”
After several brand trials, we’ve found a few favorites and, guess what, you don’t have to suffer through roll after roll of John Wayne TP that is more punishment than functional. The last thing you want, though, is to use a toilet paper that will cause problems in your black tank. Trust me, you do not want that – we’ve been there.
Read all about the ugly truth here: It’s a Dirty Job…RV Waste Tank Survival
What makes RV toilet paper so special?
Toilet paper that is made for RV or marine use, breaks down much faster than the toilet paper that you use in your home. It doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or abrasive, but it does have to break down quickly. Regular toilet paper can wind up sitting in the bottom of your black tank which means it holds the odor and can attract moth flies and other insects. Trust me, this is not what you want going on in your RV.
That isn’t all that can happen with the wrong toilet paper though. Oh, no, it gets way better. If the wads of intact paper become lodged in the hose leading to the septic system, it can cause a backup and prevent the waste from moving into the septic system efficiently. This too can lead to that awful smell, insects, and a clogged black tank. That is a whole world of trouble that you never want to experience – I promise you.
There are lots of Easy RV Repairs you can handle, but this is one best avoided!
Toilet paper brands that work well for RVs
I’ve read lots of forums and many RVers say Angel Soft is great. I have not found that to be true, but if you’re really attached to your TP then go ahead and do the TP test (see below) to find out for yourself.
We prefer Aqua Soft 2 ply by Thetford. It’s soft, it breaks down well, and if I close my eyes I can almost believe that it is regular TP. Thetford also has a 1 ply RV/Marine Toilet Tissue that is pretty good. We have not tried Dometic’s Ultra Enviro Soft but it looks promising. I hear great things about it plus it’s environmentally responsible. The last toilet paper that many RVers say is great is Scott’s Rapid Dissolve Toilet Tissue. Try one, try them all, then find your brand. After all, it’s a very personal choice.
Find the best with the TP test.
The TP test is easy and takes just a few minutes – but it can save you a lot of headaches. Fill an empty jar or glass with water straight out of the tap. Put a couple of sheets of your toilet paper in the water. Now watch. After just a few minutes, maybe 3 to 5 minutes, the paper should start to break down. You should be able to see it start to fall apart. Some people say to shake the jar but I don’t do that. I prefer to simulate the process the toilet paper will go through and I don’t believe it is going to be shaken vigorously. But that’s just me.
You meet so many wonderful people on the road! You’ll run across RVers who claim they have used regular toilet paper without problem since the beginning of time. That is all well and good, but I have one question for you. Do you really want to find out the hard (very hard, disgusting, and smelly) way that your toilet paper isn’t good for your RV?
I didn’t think so.
Now I pose this burning question to you. What brand of toilet paper do you use in your RV?
Comment
We also use Aqua Soft 2 ply by Thetford and have been very happy with it. The small extra cost is worth the peace of mind to know we won't have problems. If we never stayed in one place for more than a day or two, it wouldn't make much difference. When you are on the road, I think any T.P. will break up by getting sloshed around. But when you need to dump the tank when you have not been moving, it's important to know it breaks down easily.
We have been Full Timers for over 5 years and have had and seen horror stories regarding the Black Water tanks. The past 3 years we have been working security positions in the Oil Fields in Texas. The Guard Service Company we contract thru furnishes a lift tank for our black and grey water dumping. Inside this lift tank is a heavy duty lift pump. If you use too heavy of a t/p such as Charmin Ultra and other heavy t/ps the pump can clog up and possibly burn out the pump. This ends up being a nasty mess, as the tank runs over and someone will need to fish out the burned out pump. You will not be very popular with the service tech that comes out to replace said pump. The same thing can happen at private Campgrounds that have septic systems that have to utilize a lift pump in their system.
I guess we are one of "Those" RVers that have never used RV-specific toilet paper, and we have been RVing for almost 25 years in everything from a Pop-Up to our current 43' MotorHome. As Stephanie has said, it is a personal choice; we use Charmin Extra Strong and take precautions with our holding tank by following this procedure. #1 Water is your best friend! Really. Really!! :) After we empty out tank, we will let the black tank rinse run with the valve closed for 2 min. - this puts @ 6 gallons of water in our tank. You want that water there so solid waste and paper do not have a chance to stick to the bottom of the tank. #2 A great "home Brew" Tank treatment is equal parts of Dawn Dish Detergent, Pinesol, Liquid Calgon and Water. Put 4-6 OZ of this in your tank after you dump. alternatively, you can use a product like the Bluestreak [https://www.bluestreakchem.net/] I do not work or am compensated from them - we just like their product. We have been using this instead of the home brew above and it seems to work equally well. #2 After we dump our tank, we use 4oz of RVDigestIt - a lot of people say this is overkill, but it works for us. And whenever we use TP, we use lots and lots of water (I know I have said this several times but it IS that important LOL) Finally, Stephanie mentioned something a lot of folks do not consider: your sewer hose. In a traditional sewer hose, the metal coils on the inside of the hose are just a snag waiting to happen! This is why we have converted to the WasteMaster sewer system (Again I am not a employee of LCI or am compensated - I just know a darn good product when I see one :) [http://www.lci1.com/waste-master] This is the best sewer hose we have ever used (Formally used a Rhinoflex) The smooth interior lining of the hose ensures nothing can snag, and the cam lock system ensures that it will never ever leak or worse, come loose like a bayonet system can. #2 If you can help it, never dump your tank until it is full.
Author: Stephanie A. Mayberry
